The Portland daily press., 1887-07-08
A NOTED LOTTERY.
How the Spaniaris Dealt with Phillip
NoIan's Followers In 1907.
rGalyeston News.l


The noted lottery of life, by which the
fate of the Mier prisoners in Mexico was de-
cided by drawing black and white beans, is
not the only or first game of chance of that
kind Americans were forced to play in Mexico.
The Bolton News copies from the old Span
ish records in the archives of Mexico the
official account of the fate of the followers of
Philip Nolan, who were captured by the
Spaniards in 1907, near the site of the pres
ent city of Waco:
In the town of Chihuahua, on the ninth
day of the month of November, 1907, in COM
pllance with decree of his majesty the
King OF Spain, transmitted to the command
ing general of these provinces with royal
9 %a OF the 25d OF February in said year.. |,
spector OF the internal provinces of New
Spain, proceeded to the barracks of said
town, together with Don Pedro Ramos de
Nerea, consul for the foreigners who invade
the country under Philip Nolan, and Don
Juan Jose Diaz de Bustamante, prosecuting
attorney; and having caused the nine pris
oners confined in said barracks to assemble
IN room III order to draw lots so that one
OF them may be executed, after they knelt, |
read the decree of his majesty the King.
Inc prisoners having heard the same agreed
to throw dice; that the oldest of them should
throw first; and he who threw the smallest
number should be hung. This agreement
being made, drum, crystal tumbler and
two dice were brought, and ordered the
be. blindfolded. Ephraim Blackburn.
pelng the Oldest among the prisoners,
took first the glass. The throwing was as
follows: Ephraim Blackburn, and 1, max
ing Luciano Garcia, 8 and 4, making Z;
yMo s s Reed, 8 and 8. making II; !. Jonah
Walters, 6 and /, making Z; Ellis Bean, A
and |, making 5; William Danlin, 5 and 2,
making Z. Ephraim Blackburn having
thrown the smallest number was hung at the
Flaza de los Urangas, in the town of Chi
huahua, on the 18th of November, 1907.
execution was converted to the Catholic re-
ligion and baptized. The balance Of Nolan's
men were sent to the different penal settle
ments of the provinces, the farthest from
louisiana, where they remained until 1913.
t. the United States, the others having died
after an Imprisonment of Is years."
The diary kept by Nolan and many of his
letters, which are in my possession, show
concluslyely that he was NOT only gallant
s ana hindseiligent gentleman, but an accom-
pnshed scholar. He was thoroughly ac-
qualnted with astronomy and geography. He
made the first map of Texas, which
he presented to the Baron de Caron-
delet on returning from his first trip to
, dedas, ,+ Haa ne lived to see his plans car
tASNA SeAo ASn"o, ehC idlu ub lOV6u, WOulU
have been proud Of him. Nolan is buried in
spot between Springfield and Waco. where
his tight with the Spaniards took place.
Nolan and his party were engaged in gath
eIlng WIG horses in Texas when captured.
BAKERS Texas Scrap. Book" and "Yoak-
um's History contain an account of the
whole affair. The Spaniards, after having
given Nolan permission to gather horses in
Texas, took an idea that he had filibustering
scnemes In ylew. He had only about 20
men, to wit: Fourteen Americans, one
Frenchman, seven Spaniards and two negro
slaves.